Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is starting at first base and batting sixth on Wednesday against the visiting Texas Rangers and right-hander Jack Leiter at Great American Ball Park. Encarnacion-Strand was hit by a pitch on his right hand in Monday's game against Texas and didn't play on Tuesday. However, the 25-year-old is back in there for the series finale and will face a young hurler who looked much better in his first start of the 2025 season after struggling in his rookie year in 2024. He has never faced Leiter and will come into Wednesday's game carrying a .286 (4-for-14) early-season batting average with a home run, double, RBI, two runs scored, one walk and four strikeouts in his first four games of the year. Power is CES's primary calling card, and he should play regularly for Cincy as long as he's healthy.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Not In Reds Lineup Tuesday
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against the Rangers. The right-handed slugger was hit by a pitch on the right hand in Monday's game and had to be removed from the contest. The X-rays on his hand came back negative, however, it appears the Reds will give him a day off anyway; he is considered day-to-day. Jeimer Candelario will take over at first for Cincinnati while Santiago Espinal will man third against the Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi. Candelario is 2-for-7 with a 1:3 BB:K against the veteran righty, and Espinal is 1-for-9 with a 0:3 BB:K. Candelario, who is batting fifth, carries a much higher barrel rate in his career compared to Espinal, who is batting sixth, so the switch-hitting Candelario may be the better option in DFS formats.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Expected To See Time At Third Base
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Cincinnati Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand is expected to see time at third base during spring training. Last season, the 25-year-old was only able to appear in 29 contests due to hand and wrist injuries. During this limited stint, he was unproductive and posted an underwhelming .190/.220/.292 slash line with just two home runs. During the 2023 season, Encarnacion-Strand posted a .270/.328/.477 line with 13 long balls during his first 63 games of MLB action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Encarnacion-Strand's progression during spring training, as the team will explore other ways to keep him in the lineup. However, he has primarily played first base during his time in the major leagues. Given the power upside he showed as a rookie, he could be worth a look as a high-upside pick late in fantasy drafts if he performs well in spring training.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Activated From Injured List
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand was activated off the 60-day IL on Monday. With Encarnacion-Strand playing in the Arizona Fall League, he was initially on a rehab assignment but with it expiring he needed to be put back on the active roster as he continues to play in the AFL. The 24-year-old hit 32 home runs in 2022 in the minors, then hit another 33 between Triple-A and the majors in 2023, but was limited to just 29 games this season due to a wrist injury that eventually required surgery. Hopefully he can get back on track during the fall and will be ready to fortify the Reds lineup in 2025. Unfortunately for Amed Rosario, the veteran utility player was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Despite hitting .307 in 76 games to start the season for the Rays, Rosario was acquired by the Dodgers and then by the Reds, now having played for five different teams since 2020. The 28-year-old will be a free agent heading into the offseason.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain To Play In Arizona Fall League
Cincinnati Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand), Matt McLain (shoulder) and Edwin Arroyo (shoulder) will play in the Arizona Fall League, which began play on Monday. Both McLain and Arroyo missed all of 2024 after suffering shoulder injuries. McLain also dealt with a stress reaction in his rib cage. He is slated to play shortstop, second base and center field in the AFL, and he could also play in the outfield. If fully healthy in 2025, McLain is expected to mostly see time at second in Cincinnati. Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in June that required surgery. He will be available to play first and third base in the AFL and could also see action in the outfield. The 24-year-old will need to prove himself in spring training in order to find consistent playing time to open the 2025 campaign.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Resumes Baseball Activities
Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist), who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery back in the middle of July to fix ligaments in his fractured right wrist, has resumed baseball activities, according to manager David Bell. Encarnacion-Strand will have all offseason to rehab his injured wrist and should have plenty of time to get back to 100 percent before the start of spring training next February. It was a disappointing season for anyone that drafted the 24-year-old power-hitting right-hander in 2024, and not just because of his serious injury. The former fourth-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of Oklahoma State hit just .190 (22-for-116) with two home runs, 16 RBI and 13 runs scored in 29 games before getting hurt. Barring a setback with his wrist, CES should be a starter for Cincy in 2025.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will have right-hand surgery on July 11. The surgery comes with an expected recovery timeline of three months, so he'll essentially miss the rest of the 2024 season. Encarnacion-Strand initially went on the injured list in early May with what the team called a right ulnar styloid fracture in his hand, but additional testing showed ligament damage. Fantasy managers were expecting a lot from the 24-year-old power hitter after he batted .270 with 13 home runs in only 63 games in his rookie season in 2023, so this is obviously a big blow for anyone that drafted him. CES ended up playing in only 29 games this year and hit .190/.220/.293 with two homers and 16 RBI. Spencer Steer should continue to man first base for the Reds moving forward, which has opened up playing time at third base for Santiago Espinal.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Scheduled To Be Re-Examined
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) will have a follow-up exam on June 5. Encarnacion-Strand was diagnosed with a fractured right hand back on May 8, which stemmed from being hit by a pitch on April 27, and he was expected to miss somewhere between four and six weeks. The 24-year-old former top prospect should remain stashed in shallow fantasy leagues for his power potential and a possible return sometime in the middle of June, but he was slashing a pitiful .190/.220/.293 with two home runs, six doubles, and 16 RBI over 123 plate appearances (29 games) before requiring a trip to the injured list. The switch-hitting Jeimer Candelario's playing time at first base should be locked in for the time being, but he's failed to produce much for fantasy purposes while slashing just .216/.284/.379 with four homers, 11 doubles, and 17 RBI in 153 at-bats.
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that a new fracture was revealed in first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand's right hand, and he'll miss a month to six weeks as he heals. Encarnacion-Strand was hit by a pitch on his right hand at the end of April, but initial tests didn't reveal the fracture. Not only is the 24-year-old now out for the foreseeable future, but he has started the 2024 season ice-cold at the plate, slashing just .190/.220/.293 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 116 at-bats. Despite the disappointing start to his sophomore season, CES should stay rostered in the majority of mixed fantasy leagues. Jeimer Candelario should slide over to first base the majority of time Encarnacion-Strand is out, allowing Santiago Espinal to see more playing time at third base.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand Put On 10-Day Injured List
The Cincinnati Reds placed infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right ulnar styloid fracture and signed infielder Mike Ford to a one-year major-league contract in a corresponding move. Left-hander Brandon Williamson (shoulder) was also moved to the 60-day injured list. Encarnacion-Strand fractured his right hand when he was hit by a pitch late last month and missed four games as a result. With the 24-year-old out for at least the next 10 days, Ford and Jeimer Candelario should be options to fill in at first base for the Reds moving forward. Candelario is getting the start at the cold corner on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Santiago Espinal at third base. In addition to his injury, it's been a bad start for CES, as he's hitting just .190 (22-for-116) with two homers and 16 RBI.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand
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Reds
